A MOTOR dealer is moving to a £1m home in Washington as part of a £2m expansion plan that will create 100 jobs.

Gateshead group Springfield opens a Team Valley showroom today and plans to launch another in Newcastle later this year.

The company is building a headquarters in Washington, which will run its growing chain of seven outlets across the North-East.

The base, bigger than the firm's Tyneside offices, will also include a training centre for its 250 staff, an inspection centre and a body shop.

Ron Price, group director, said: "This is going to be a good year for us. We are getting the space we need to grow the company even faster."

Springfield recently bought the Peugeot franchise from Minories in Team Valley. Bosses hope the acquisition will boost the company's £100m turnover by up to £30m, paving the way for further growth next year.

The 13-year-old firm performed well in 2002, in a market hit by the end of block exemption from European com- petition rules and low-price alternatives on the continent.

"We have had a good year, although we had a couple of tough months in October and November and block exemption was a worry," said Mr Price."